Fitbit Wearable Electronics: What a Wonderful Motivator!

I have to say that I'm very, very impressed. My Fitbit Zip has got me doing significantly more exercise than I was doing before.

My new Fitbit Zip is proving to be an amazing motivator when it comes to exercising. I now find myself going out of my way to walk a few more steps, just to see them reflected on my personal online dashboard.

What can I say? It's great to be me! And why do I say this? Well, apart from the fact that I'm dashingly handsome, a trendsetter, and a leader of fashion (it says so in the introduction to my books, so it must be true), I love gadgets and gizmos, so I'm the luckiest of lucky little rascals because people send me all sorts of goodies to peruse and ponder and play with.

For example, do you recall Microchip's recent announcement of the PIC24F 'GC' MCUs With Intelligent Analog? These little scamps boast all sorts of features that make them ideal for a wide variety of portable applications. Well, a couple of days after I'd posted that column, a Fed-Ex package from Microchip landed on my desk. When I opened this package, I discovered something called a Fitbit Zip:

To be honest, I'd never heard of the Fitbit family of wearable electronics before, but if you bounce over to the Fitbit Store, you will discover that they currently have three products:

Fitbit Flex: Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband

Fitbit One: Wireless Activity + Sleep Tracker

Fitbit Zip: Wireless Activity Tracker

Well, I must admit that I was intrigued. When I opened the Fitbit Zip package I discovered the teeny-weeny Fitbit Zip itself, which is shown here next to a quarter:

This was accompanied by a replaceable battery that is said to last anywhere from four to six months, a molded plastic clip by which you attach the Fitbit Zip to your person, the smallest wireless USB dongle I've ever seen in my life (to plug into your PC or Mac), and a strange piece of plastic whose function was a complete mystery to me.

The instructions accompanying this little rascal couldn’t be simpler. They say "To set up, go to: www.fitbit.com/zip" (in multiple languages). When you go to this site, you see three simple pictograms -- the first shows you inserting the battery; the second shows you plugging the wireless dongle into your computer, and the last shows you clicking a button (which you do actually click on the pictogram) to download and install the software driver onto your computer.

First came the battery. There is a groove in the back cover to the Fitbit Zip. I had to borrow a penny from Bob in the office next to mine to use as a sort of screwdriver in order to open the back, insert the battery, and close it up again. A few seconds after I'd done all this, I noticed another graphic on the screen showing "What's included in your Zip box" -- it turned out that the mysterious plastic "thing" was in fact the "Battery Tool" that you use to open and close the cover (give me strength!).

Next came the wireless dongle, which was followed by the software download. As soon as the software is downloaded it broadcasts a wireless message (presumably to any and all Fitbits in close proximity) telling them to display the (relatively) unique 4-digit numerical codes associated with them. Then it tells you to look at the code being displayed on your Fitbit's screen and enter that code into your computer. This way, if multiple folks in close proximity each have their own Fitbit, everyone (computers and Fitbits) knows "who is who." Also, as part of this initialization, your computer uploads the local time into your Fitbit. This provides a great illustration of just how simple the entire process is.

@truthfinder: In your post you did not mention (or atleast I missed) the model of Fitbit that you had on...

Actually, early in the blog (third paragraph, I think) I said: "When I opened this package, I discovered something called a Fitbit Zip."

I do agree with you about the wrist ones not being likely to give 100% accurate results, but I woudl like to try one to see. I actually think that they might be better than you expect -- I'm not sure if they work oby detecting a swinging motion, or by detecting the "jaring" motion when your foot hits the floor.

Re counting the steps -- I think mthe desk treadmill in my office is as close to 100% accurate as I coudl hope -- I can watch the step cound advance with each step. Now you have me wanting to try one of those write units (but not enough for me to pay for one LOL)

Max Maxfield : In your post you did not mention (or atleast I missed) the model of Fitbit that you had on. I was commenting on the Fitbit Flex and every other brand that you wear on the wrist or on the arm. Isn't it common sense that when the arm is not moving sufficiently at every step taken by the leg, a step count cannot be made correctly ? Other reviewers have noted that when they shook hands with someone, the fitbit recorded steps. So was it when they waved. On the other hand, if your style of walk/run is such that you do not move your arm, you do not get a step count. Again, statistically speaking, the (in)accuracy of these gadgets become evident only when you can compare say 5000 actual steps with the reading they give out. But who can count 5000 steps correctly ? So, what I expected from you was a statement to point out the limitation of such gadgets. Your later evaluation does address these flaws to some extent. But not fully. My complaint is not against the Fitbit alone but all those that claim to give out correct readings of steps taken while sitting on the arm or the wrist. Anyway, I did not desire my statement/post to be against you personally.

LOL! It does make you think twice, though, about taking the stairs instead of the elevator! The biggest thing it does is create awareness, no magic bullet, but gets you thinking all the time about the healthier option.

Max, I concur... instead of trashing you, the person could have given some useful info... like when I walk, my good old fashioned pedometer is clipped to my waist (which has gone to waste these days with min exercise!) and it gives me the number of steps walked was well as miles. That type of usage does not count arm movements!